astitchinthyme-sue

I don't think I'm as wacky as I seem,,,

2009-08-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

As you can see I have moved all the political talk to a new blog. It'll be my place to rant and rave and vent my frustrations, it'll be a place I can talk about my feelings about our President and issues I'm interested in without having to offend any of my friends here.

I was beginning to feel like a weirdo and left out of the every day fun stuff. I missed the fun stuff so I think this is the best thing for me and you.

If you don't like politics then please don't go to the other blog, there are no holds barred there, I'm letting it all hang out! LOL! But if you love politics then by all means please come by and give me your opinions, even if they differ from mine! I will be respectful and there will not be any mean-spiritedness going on there!

Is this the 3rd time talking about this?? I think this'll be the last!!

I will jump back into the fun when I have time this weekend, hope you all have a great day!!
xo Sue

John Stewart was right!

2009-08-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

President Obama..

You're a Jedi Knight ten steps ahead of everybody else.

You KNEW what was going to happen at those town hall meetings during the slow news month of August.

You KNEW the Republicans would start feeling confident that they could knock you out while they had you on the ropes.

You KNEW whacked out Birthers and Deathers and Teabaggers were going to project their ignorant assed bullshit on everybody.

And I'll even bet you KNEW Charles "I Tweet Dumb Shit" Grassley would BRAG about how he wasn't negotiating in good faith.

Well, August is now more than half over.

You already have the chief Republican negotiator for bipartisanship in health care reform saying he wasn't negotiating in good faith, AND THEN ADMITTING THERE WAS NO WAY HE'D VOTE FOR ANY BILL!

Your ducks are all in a row.

You now have every right to say, "we negotiated in good faith with the Republicans to develop health care reform legislation. You now have the chief negotiator bragging about how he wasn't negotiating in good faith but was rather using some sort of stalling tactic to slow down the legislation and even admitting there is no bill we could come up with that he'd vote for. Health care reform is simply too important for this kind of gamesmanship, so the Democratic Caucus in the Congress now has no choice but to go it alone. We'll now develop the legislation that Democrats can vote for and pass that however we have to."

BOOM GOES THE DYNAMITE!

Masterful.

The Force is STRONG in you!

I'm sorry I ever doubted you.

courtesy of democraticunderground.com and posted by WeDidIt
edited for my blog :-)

Barack Obama, You FOOLED ME, And I Apologize UPDATE: Now Breaking On AC360!!!!! - Democratic Underground

2009-08-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama, You FOOLED ME, And I Apologize UPDATE: Now Breaking On AC360!!!!! - Democratic Underground

Posted using ShareThis

Liberals fight for ALL of us

2009-08-17T12:48:00.000-07:00

This is a post from my good friend B.J. She has given me permission to post it on my blog and I am proud to do it, if you would like to meet this dear lady click here..demwit.blogspot.com

For those who call Liberal/progressives wrong, well I believe this country needs us right now, we fight for all Americans and we won't back down. I hope you read this til the end!

(Originally published as “Joe Conservative” on “I See My Dreams,” 14 February 2007. Author unknown.)

Joe the Plumber gets up at 6 a.m. and fills his coffee pot with water to prepare his morning coffee. The water is clean and good, because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water-quality standards.

With his first swallow, he takes his daily medication. His medications are safe to take. because some stupid commie liberal fought to ensure their safety and that they work as advertised.

All but $10 of his medications are paid for by his employer's medical plan, because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance - now Joe gets it, too.

He prepares his morning breakfast: bacon and eggs. Joe's bacon is safe to eat, because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.

In the morning shower, Joe reaches for his shampoo. His bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents, because some crybaby liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much his shampoo contained.

Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean, because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for the laws to stop industries from polluting our air.

He walks on the government-provided sidewalk to the subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work. It saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees – not to mention fuel costs - because some fancy-pants liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.

Joe the Plumber begins his work day. He has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacations, because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe's employer pays these standards, because Joe's employer doesn't want his employees to call the union.

If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, he'll get a worker compensation or unemployment check, because some stupid liberal didn't think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.

It’s noontime, and Joe needs to make a bank deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe's deposit is federally insured by the FDIC, because some godless liberal wanted to protect Joe's money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the Great Depression.

Joe has to pay his below-market federal student loan, because some elitist liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his lifetime.

Joe also forgets that in addition to his federally subsidized student loans, he attended a state-funded university.

5:30 p.m. and Joe is home from work. He plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive. His car is among the safest in the world, because some America-hating liberal fought for car safety standards to go along with the taxpayer-funded roads.

He arrives at his boyhood home. His was the third generation to live in the house, financed by the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) because bankers didn't want to make rural loans.

The house didn't have electricity until some big-government liberal stuck his nose where it didn't belong and demanded rural electrification.

He is happy to see his father, who is now retired. His father lives on Social Security and a union pension, because some wine-drinking, cheese-eating liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn't have to.

Joe gets back in his car for the ride home, and turns on a radio talk show. The radio host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. He doesn't mention that the beloved conservatives have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day. Joe agrees: "We don't need those big-government liberals ruining our lives! After all, I'm a self-made man who believes people should take care of themselves, just like I have."

***

BJ Update:

Joe the Plumber had his 15 minutes of fame at last night’s presidential debate. He wants to start his own business, but he doesn’t want to pay the taxes candidate McCain claims he’ll be stuck with. “Spread the wealth around,” McCain tells him, equating taxation with socialism. Joe doesn’t bother to visit candidate Obama’s official Web site to find out exactly how he’ll be affected.

Joe sleeps soundly at night. He expects his government to protect him, but be damned if those far-left, bleeding-heart liberals are going to raise his taxes!

Joe fully supported the pre-emptive, unilateral invasion of Iraq, while the U.S. was already engaged in Afghanistan. Wars can be pretty expensive, but Joe prefers that someone else’s taxes pay the tab.

Joe probably doesn’t know that the Bush administration and rubber-stamp Republican Congress worked very hard for years to overturn many of the benefits he enjoys every day.

That radio (or TV) host keeps his mind occupied with those ever-present red herrings: “God, guns and gays,” “the liberal media elite” and, of course, “Democrats want to raise your taxes.”

Joe’s conscience is clear. He knows he’s not one of those “piglets at the nipple” of government benefits his pal Rush Limbaugh warns about.

Joe the Plumber calls it a night, telephone by his bedside, secure in the knowledge three little numbers will put him in touch with government-provided emergency services.

He says his prayers, thanking the Almighty he lives McCain’s “American dream.” He just doesn’t want to help pay for it.

Posted by B.J. at 9:32 AM

Informative...

2009-08-14T15:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend,

This is probably one of the longest emails I’ve ever sent, but it could be the most important.

Across the country we are seeing vigorous debate about health insurance reform. Unfortunately, some of the old tactics we know so well are back — even the viral emails that fly unchecked and under the radar, spreading all sorts of lies and distortions.

As President Obama said at the town hall in New Hampshire, “where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that's actually been proposed.”

So let’s start a chain email of our own. At the end of my email, you’ll find a lot of information about health insurance reform, distilled into 8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage, 8 common myths about reform and 8 reasons we need health insurance reform now.

Right now, someone you know probably has a question about reform that could be answered by what’s below. So what are you waiting for? Forward this email.

Thanks,
David

David Axelrod
Senior Adviser to the President

P.S. We launched www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck this week to knock down the rumors and lies that are floating around the internet. You can find the information below, and much more, there. For example, we've just added a video of Nancy-Ann DeParle from our Health Reform Office tackling a viral email head on. Check it out:

8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage

Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.
Learn more and get details: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/

8 common myths about health insurance reform
Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it: It’s a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.
We can’t afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It’s a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.
Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.
Vets' health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.
Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.
Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It’s myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.
You can keep your own insurance: It’s myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.
No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.
Learn more and get details:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq

8 Reasons We Need Health Insurance Reform Now

Coverage Denied to Millions: A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults – 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market – were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill. Learn more:http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied_coverage/index.html
Less Care for More Costs: With each passing year, Americans are paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hiddencosts/index.html
Roadblocks to Care for Women: Women’s reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care. Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care. Learn more:http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/women/index.html
Hard Times in the Heartland: Throughout rural America, there are nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care. The past several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality, uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural areas. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in rural communities. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hardtimes
Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage: Nearly one-third of the uninsured – 13 million people – are employees of firms with less than 100 workers. From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%. About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain insurance through a spouse. Learn more:http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/helpbottomline
The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare alone. Learn more:http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction
Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. An estimated 87 million people - one in every three Americans under the age of 65 - were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families. Learn more:http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/diminishing/index.html
The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families, businesses, and state and federal government budgets. Perhaps the most visible sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance - projections suggest that this number will rise to about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform. Learn more:http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf

The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

Eunice Kennedy Shriver...

2009-08-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

"fearless warrior for the voiceless" who could make politicians quake, a trailblazing woman who smoked Cuban cigars and played tackle football with the family!
Founder of the Special Olympics, Eunice is credited with helping to change the world's perception of the mentally disabled. This amazing Kennedy woman will be greatly missed!

Daughter Maria Shriver helping carry the casket of her beloved Mother...
Devoted daughter Maria, a wonderful woman in her own right, I love her! She delivered the eulogy, some parts I cried, some parts made me smile, it was truely a beautiful tribute to a very special woman.

I love this Kennedy family, May God Bless them all on this sad day!

No Clotheslines? HUH?

2009-08-08T08:28:00.000-07:00

Did you hear this? Seems some group of snobs in Greenwich, Connecticut are proposing a ban on clotheslines!
What's wrong with hanging your freshly washed clothes outside in the privacy of your backyard? Is this THE United States of America? Shouldn't we be allowed fresh smelling laundry?
BTW, none of these pictures are of my laundry, I did take some pictures of my blowing laundry last year for Dot but I deleted them when I was thinning out my pictures... these are courtesy of the web
Oh so lovely! Reminds me of the breezy days in Spring, reminds me of the old days when I hung laundry on the line EVERY DAY!

This looks like my neighborhood!

LOOK!!! It's Amelias TEDDY!!! Which reminds me, hers needs washed too! LOL!
So, a woman says this proposal is because some consider it low class to hang out laundry, hmmmmm, these people try to convince it's for safety reasons. Why? Strangers shouldn't be running thru your backyards getting hung up in your clotheslines, right?

update: The proposal is being reconsidered...

We are having gorgeous weather in NJ this weekend, I think I will strip my bed and hang out some freshly washed sheets, Mmmmmm can you smell that fresh air! I'll sleep like a baby tonight! xo

An emotion-filled morning

2009-08-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

it was!
Poor Amelia, she didn't understand why I was crying, I tried not to let her see me so she wouldn't become afraid, but I couldn't hold back the tears of joy when I saw the plane land and then watch Laura Ling and Euna Lee get off the plane and fall into the arms of their loved ones! Sweet 4 yr. old Hana didn't know what to think when she saw her Mommy, but put her arms around Eunas neck and didn't let go! No, I could not hold back the tears!

I don't know if there was a better choice than Bill Clinton to go to N.Korea, and with diplomacy which he is so great at, bring Laura and Euna home with him! In my humble opinion he is a wonderful example of what it means to be a humanitarian, to use his diplomatic skills so expertly, I'm so proud of him!

I'm so happy for these young women, Laura and Euna, and it's a happy ending Thank God!!

I know alot of you don't like political talk, but thats ok, I understand if you don't want to comment when I post these feelings I have about our country and political stuff. It is something I am passionate about so I will sometimes blog about it, not for sensationalism, but just to vent my frustration and yes, anger. Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing here, the fluff and fun stuff becomes trivial to me when people are suffering. Sometimes I feel close to you all like real friendships and then there are times when it feels weird like an empty shell. Why do we blog? Why do we tell strangers our innermost feelings? Why do we want lots of comments that make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside? I don't know what I'm saying, just rambling I guess. Sooo...
Anyway, I have yard work to do while Amelia naps. I guess I'll be here blogging again, soon, maybe.... xo

Working together...

2009-08-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

I'm watching Amelias show on Disney, Handy Manny. I'm listening to Manny sing this pretty song.. working together Amigos forever, helping each other....
Why can't real life be that simple? People working to help those in need, putting their fellow man first. Oh sure we have wonderful organizations and wonderful people who do good things every day, but whats going on in this country today is pathetic and disheartening. There is such corruption and greed all in the name of money. I know it's not the fault of one party, I'm not that partisan. Last night on TV names were put out there for us, names of those in Congress who are taking millions of dollars from insurance companies and medical fields, just so they will work for THEM and not US who elected them. What are we the people gonna do about this? Mabe they need to lose their jobs the next election.
Then we have some who are trying to inform the public about whats in this healthcare reform bill but their voices are being drownd out by busloads of screaming so-called ADULTS. Why not just shut up long enough to hear whats being said then you can make an informed decision?
Then we have those who say they are embarrassed by the actions of our citizens, and so they are called unpatriotic.
I don't know... I'm trying to get out of bed every day and be cheerful and positive, hopeful for our future. Yes, I am hopeful...

If you would like to see the video of the TV show commentary go here..
papastraighttalk.blogspot.com

I have NO health insurance....

2009-08-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

nadda...zip...

Butch got laid off so we have lost our coverage.... I lied, I have been reading the political blogs again. I'm, of course, upset about all the misinformation out in cyberspace concerning the health reform Obama is trying to get passed. Seems Republicans are scaring citizens into believing the government wants to come into your home and into your DR's office and tell you what to do with your body. Seems this week they are scaring seniors into believing the government wants to kill them. It's friggin insanity out there people!
Why are they so against this reform? They say we can't afford it, but President Obama says we can, he has already told us how he plans to pay for it. If you would like to read all about it go here BarackObama.com
Congress has great healthcare, why don't some of the members want the same care for us? Is it because of the insurance companies? What could be better than a little competition for the insurance companies? Surely it couldn't put that big of a dent in their huge profits.
70% of the country wants reform, when they read the bill and understand whats involved, they are for it. We need this so bad. I have faith in our President and in our congress to pass this bill.
In the meantime, I will get my prescriptions in generic form, Butch will have his chest Ct Scan postponed, and hopefully we will make due til he gets back to work. I know there are thousands of people worse off then we are.
I came across this earlier, check it out...http://truthhugger.com read the post by nytexan July 22
Please be informed, don't fall for the fearmongering, the lies and deceit. We as a nation deserve better!